How to use our Adjective Finder
Start by entering text into the text-box above. The adjective count above the text-box will automatically display the count as you type!
Below that is a gray box that will display all the adjectives found in your text in the format of a comma separated list.
There is also a character count below the text-box along with a green "Copy Text" button to easily copy your text.
The Impact of Adjectives in Writing
One of the parts of speech that can have a surprisingly great effect on what you write is the adjective.
The overall effect can be positive or negative, so it's important to know how to use them to your advantage.
In this piece, I'll provide some insight into exactly what adjectives are, what they do, and how to use them effectively. You might be surprised to learn that the last part may be more complicated than you think.
What's an Adjective?
I'm going to start with the most elementary part of the discussion, by defining just what an adjective is and what it does. In the simplest sense, an adjective is a modifier.
More specifically, it's a word or group of words used to modify a noun or pronoun by providing additional information about it. It does so by quantifying, describing or identifying the word it's applied to.
If that sounds complicated, think of it this way: adjectives answer questions about nouns and pronouns, such as:
- "Which one(s)?"
- "How many?"
- "How much?"
- "How big?"
- "What kind?"
That list can be broken down into more specific questions, but I think you get the idea. They're a very useful part of descriptive writing. On the other hand, they're also very easy to overuse. More on the proper adjective count later.
What's so Hard About Using Them?
Nothing, really, but there's more here than meets the eye. Obviously, an adjective can be used simply by placing it directly in front of the word it modifies.
For instance, "the black cat" or "the big, black cat" are examples of proper usage.
Consider, however, that "Ten of the cats are black" or "the cat with the sleek, black fur" are also valid ways to use them. The last two examples are "prepositional phrases," so called because they contain a preposition ("of" and "with") that links the adjectives to the noun and each phrase is considered as a whole, to be an adjective. All of the examples are modifying the noun, "cat."
Now, in case you think I missed one in those examples, let me explain another type of adjective phrase.
In "ten of the cats are black," the words "are black" do create an adjective phrase, however the word "are" is a linking verb, not a preposition.
Fortunately, it's used properly in the sentence, so knowing the difference is only important to our definition here.
Common Mistakes when Using Modifiers
As if that last section wasn't complicated enough, it's important when you use modifiers like adjectives to make sure readers associate them with the correct word. It's so easy to slip up that several of the ways to do so are conveniently named. Because most of these mistakes involve both adjectives and the other most common modifier, the adverb, which is covered in more detail here.
There is, however, one very common mistake writers make with adjectives. I've already mentioned it and it's worth discussing separately:
Overusing Adjectives
Adjectives can add flair and interest to your writing and that's usually a very good thing. In writing a story, for instance, it's important to create vivid images in the reader's mind. Adjectives are a powerful tool that allows you to do just that.
Here's a short, simple example:
"It was morning in the backyard. Dale threw the ball for his dog, who chased it."
Yes, we can picture what's going on, but there's a lot missing from the image, even if we already know who Dale is. Now, let's try it this way:
"It was a sunny Sunday morning in the huge backyard. Dale threw a colorful rubber ball for his active young Black Labrador Retriever, Max, who enthusiastically chased it across the freshly-cut lawn."
Now, with a few adjectives (and one adverb) we've developed a whole scene in the reader's imagination. In fact, we've even engaged the sense of smell, with "freshly-cut lawn." Pretty clever, don't you think?
Now, to be honest, the second example is probably close to being "overstuffed" with adjectives. It most likely could benefit from being trimmed down with the help of an adjective finder or adjective detector tool. As an opening scene, it probably wouldn't deter a reader, although I'd probably want to break it down into three sentences. To get back to the point, though, let's look at it one more time:
"It was a bright, sunny, blue-skied Sunday morning in the huge, fenced back yard in Dallas. Dale threw a colorful, squishy rubber ball for his active, young, male Black Labrador Retriever, Max, who enthusiastically chased it across the dewy, freshly-cut fescue lawn."
Chances are, you've lost your reader. If the rest of the story is written similarly, "Max" is probably going to be a very old dog before a reader finishes it.
While this may seem like an extreme example, you'd be surprised at how many publishers reject stories much like this on a daily basis.
This Isn't Just for Storytellers
Though I've used a storytelling example above, it's important to note that an adjective count that is too high can be a problem in any writing format.
Have you ever read a marketing article that seemed "over the top" or "flowery," and thoroughly unconvincing? That's exactly the type of reaction you can expect to a sales copy with too many adjectives. Imagine how it would affect an executive letter, job proposal, job application or even your resumé.
While there may be room for a few extra adjectives in a novel, in the business world, it's important to focus on using only the adjectives you need to make your point. Anything else will be considered "fluff" and could cost you a rewrite, at least.
It's About Balance
With practice, you'll find it gets easier to strike a balance between too few and too many adjectives in your writing. In the meantime, adopting a "less is more" strategy is probably your best bet. At the very least, keep the flow and simplicity of your work in mind when proofreading. If the piece seems to "stall," consider whether some extra adjectives might be part of the cause.
Thanks for using our Adjective finder in text tool!
Happy adjective counting! And good luck writing! We hope you enjoyed our online adjective detector.
